UPSC Prelims Practice
Current Affairs Quiz 7 July 2026
Test Your Knowledge
15 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
Choose number of questions
Question 1 of 15
Facts
With the pact signed during PM Modi visit to Indonesia in July 2026, Indonesia becomes the third foreign buyer of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, after the Philippines and Vietnam.
Analysis
The summit produced 20 outcomes, and PM Modi was conferred Indonesia highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna.
Concept note
BrahMos is an India-Russia joint venture (DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyeniya), named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international relations, GS3 defence. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | defence exports, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Act East, Indo-Pacific. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking Indonesia was the first buyer. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | BrahMos buyers so far, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Defence diplomacy as strategic outreach. |
Question 2 of 15
Facts
OSAT stands for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test, the back-end of the chip value chain covering assembly, testing and packaging, distinct from front-end fabrication.
Analysis
The Rs 7,600 crore CG Semi plant is a joint venture with Japan Renesas and Thailand Stars Microelectronics, under the India Semiconductor Mission.
Concept note
India began with OSAT/ATMP (assembly, testing, marking, packaging) as it is less capital-intensive than a front-end fabrication unit, or fab.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 economy and science and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | semiconductor self-reliance, China plus one, supply-chain resilience. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | equating OSAT with a fab. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | OSAT = back-end assembly and test. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Why India started with assembly, not fabrication. |
Question 3 of 15
Facts
The Chita Andolan (pyre protest) by displaced tribal families in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, is against the Ken-Betwa Link Project, over unmet rehabilitation, compensation and land-for-land promises.
Analysis
The Ken-Betwa Link is India first river-interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan, involving the Daudhan Dam inside the Panna Tiger Reserve.
Concept note
The project transfers surplus water from the Ken to the deficit Betwa basin, both Yamuna tributaries; rehabilitation is governed by the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 society, GS3 environment. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | development versus displacement, R and R, river interlinking, Forest Rights Act. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | placing Daudhan Dam outside Panna. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Ken-Betwa = first NPP river-link; Daudhan Dam in Panna. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Balancing water security and tribal rights. |
Question 4 of 15
Facts
The Underwater Fibre Optic Sensing System (UFOSS) is a seabed acoustic surveillance network being developed by the DRDO to detect and track submarines in the Indian Ocean Region.
Analysis
Led by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, it uses fibre-optic cables with acoustic sensors and SQUIDs to detect submarine signatures.
Concept note
SQUIDs are Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices; UFOSS strengthens Anti-Submarine Warfare and maritime domain awareness against Chinese and Pakistani activity.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 security and science and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | undersea domain awareness, String of Pearls, ASW, indigenisation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing UFOSS with a communications cable. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UFOSS = seabed submarine-detection network by NPOL Kochi. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** The new frontier of maritime security. |
Question 5 of 15
Facts
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 raises the sanctioned judge strength from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, so the total rises from 34 to 38.
Analysis
It amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and will replace an ordinance, aiming to reduce case pendency.
Concept note
Article 124(1) empowers Parliament to fix the Supreme Court judge strength by law; ordinances are issued under Article 123.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 polity and judiciary. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | judicial pendency, access to justice, judge strength, ordinance route. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | counting the CJI within the 37. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | 33 to 37 (excluding CJI); total 34 to 38. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** More judges versus structural reform. |
Question 6 of 15
Facts
India is chairing the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy under the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), at Geneva, from July 6 to 8, 2026.
Analysis
The IGE is constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP).
Concept note
India is represented by Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs; the domestic law is the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international bodies, GS3 economy. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | consumer protection, e-commerce, dark patterns, global governance. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing UNCTAD with UNEP. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UNCTAD IGE on Consumer Protection; UNGCP framework. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Protecting consumers in the digital age. |
Question 7 of 15
Facts
BrahMos is a joint venture between India (the DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya), and its name combines the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
Analysis
It is a supersonic cruise missile, and its export to Indonesia in July 2026 makes Indonesia the third foreign buyer.
Concept note
BrahMos can be launched from land, sea, submarine and air platforms; earlier buyers were the Philippines and Vietnam.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 defence, GS2 international relations. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | defence exports, joint development, supersonic cruise missile. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | attributing BrahMos to India-France. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | BrahMos = India (DRDO) plus Russia (NPOM). |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India as an arms exporter. |
Question 8 of 15
Facts
Cyttopsis indica, the “Indian dory”, is a new deep-sea fish described by ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, from depths of about 350 to 500 metres in the Lakshadweep Sea.
Analysis
It was earlier misidentified as Cyttopsis rosea, now confined to the Atlantic, and was confirmed through DNA sequencing.
Concept note
ICAR-CMFRI is the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute; dories are a primitive group of marine fishes.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology and environment. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | marine biodiversity, taxonomy, DNA barcoding. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing it with a freshwater species. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Cyttopsis indica, deep-sea fish, ICAR-CMFRI Kochi. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India marine biodiversity potential. |
Question 9 of 15
Facts
The Sustainable Development Report 2026, by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), ranked India at its best-ever 94th of 167 countries, with a score of about 68.3, up from 99th in 2025.
Analysis
Finland topped the index, and India still faces major challenges on goals such as Zero Hunger and Good Health.
Concept note
The report tracks progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which run to 2030.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 and GS3 reports and indices. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | SDGs, hunger, health, sustainable development. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing this with the NITI Aayog SDG India Index. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India 94th (SDR 2026); Finland first. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Where India lags on the SDGs. |
Question 10 of 15
Facts
Indiahandmade is an e-commerce portal run by the Ministry of Textiles, operating a zero-commission model that passes the full sale proceeds to artisans accounts.
Analysis
It crossed 64 lakh onboarded artisans and weavers, supports 22 scheduled languages and AI-powered listings, and is part of India Digital Public Infrastructure push.
Concept note
The zero-commission model and free shipping distinguish it from commercial marketplaces.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 economy, GS2 governance. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | artisan livelihoods, digital public infrastructure, handicrafts. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | placing the portal under the MSME ministry. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Indiahandmade = Ministry of Textiles, zero commission. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Technology for traditional livelihoods. |
Question 11 of 15
Facts
SOLVE (Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments) is a solid-propellant, sub-orbital testbed for atmospheric, high-altitude and re-entry experiments and for Gaganyaan parachute validation, tested at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Analysis
It is a cost-effective platform compared with a full multi-stage orbital rocket.
Concept note
Sub-orbital means it reaches space but does not complete an orbit around the Earth.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | sub-orbital testing, Gaganyaan, re-entry. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | treating SOLVE as an orbital launcher. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | SOLVE = sub-orbital experiment vehicle; Sriharikota. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Low-cost testing for human spaceflight. |
Question 12 of 15
Facts
The Ken-Betwa Link Project is India first river-interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), transferring surplus water from the Ken to the deficit Betwa basin, both Yamuna tributaries.
Analysis
Its Daudhan Dam lies inside the Panna Tiger Reserve, which is why it faces environmental and displacement concerns.
Concept note
The revived Chita Andolan pyre protest by tribal families in Chhatarpur district is over rehabilitation and compensation.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 geography, GS3 environment. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | river interlinking, displacement, tiger habitat. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | treating river-linking as free of ecological cost. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Ken-Betwa is the first NPP link; Daudhan Dam in Panna. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Water transfer versus local costs. |
Question 13 of 15
Which of the statements is/are correct?
Facts
Both statements are correct. In N.P. Ponnuswami (1952) and Kuldip Nayar (2006) the Supreme Court treated the right to vote as a statutory right, while free and fair elections have been held to be part of the basic structure.
Analysis
A July 2026 editorial argued that this tension supports giving the franchise firmer constitutional protection.
Concept note
The right to vote is provided by Article 326 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, while jurisprudence protects ballot secrecy, informed choice and NOTA.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 polity, elections and rights. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | statutory versus constitutional right, basic structure, franchise. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming the right to vote is a fundamental right. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | vote = statutory right per precedent; free and fair elections = basic structure. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should the vote be a fundamental right. |
Question 14 of 15
Facts
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the process by which microbes such as bacteria evolve to resist the antimicrobial drugs used against them, making infections harder to treat.
Analysis
A July 2026 editorial argued that AMR means India low-cost generics strength is no longer enough, urging a shift to original drug discovery, citing Wockhardt new antibiotic Zaynich.
Concept note
India has a National Action Plan on AMR; overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and agriculture drives resistance.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology, GS2 health. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | AMR, drug discovery, One Health, superbugs. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing AMR with vaccine resistance. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | AMR = microbes resisting drugs; NAP-AMR. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Moving Indian pharma up the value chain. |
Question 15 of 15
Facts
India began its semiconductor push with OSAT (assembly, testing and packaging) plants because the back-end is far less capital-intensive and technologically demanding than front-end fabrication (a fab).
Analysis
The CG Semi plant at Sanand, under the India Semiconductor Mission, builds this back-end capacity while the country works toward a full fabrication ecosystem.
Concept note
A fab requires tens of billions of dollars and advanced process technology, whereas OSAT/ATMP is a viable entry point.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 economy and science and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | OSAT, fabrication, value chain, self-reliance. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking OSAT and fabrication are the same. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | OSAT is the cheaper back-end entry point. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Sequencing a semiconductor ecosystem. |
Performance
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